{"id":16732,"date":"2026-02-24T14:53:45","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T14:53:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/api.betspertsgolf.com\/raw-forum\/?post_type=article&p=16732"},"modified":"2026-02-24T14:54:26","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T14:54:26","slug":"2026-cognizant-classic-noonans-outright-picks-and-preview","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/api.betspertsgolf.com\/raw-forum\/article\/2026-cognizant-classic-noonans-outright-picks-and-preview\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 Cognizant Classic – Noonan\u2019s Outright Picks and Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"

The PGA Tour kicks off the first of four straight Florida events in Palm Beach Gardens at PGA National for the Cognizant Classic, formerly known as the Honda Classic. The sponsor change came at the perfect time for this event. The identity of this event pre-2024 was unique, as it routinely ranked among the toughest non-Major tests on the schedule each year. But two major changes <\/span>prior to<\/span> the 2024 event have impacted how this event plays now. <\/span><\/p>\n

First, let’s talk agronomy. Dormant Bermuda grass is one of the most difficult surfaces that you can play on. Lies are unpredictable, which makes contact and control a lot more difficult, and on a course that typically plays windy and is littered with water hazards, that can lead to difficult scoring conditions. The fairways and rough, including the surfaces around the Bermuda greens, are now overseeded with rye grass. It’s aesthetically pleasing because the course looks lush and green rather than baked out and brown, but it also creates a more receptive, predictable playing surface.<\/span><\/p>\n

The other change, which is straightforward when you consider its impact on the overall scoring average, is that the difficult Par-4 10th hole had its tee box moved back slightly and was changed to a Par-5. <\/span>That hole has had a 60% <\/span>birdie or better<\/span> rate the past two seasons, one of the easiest birdie holes on the entire PGA Tour.<\/span> The course routinely played a full stroke or more over par, but played 1.74 strokes under par last season.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, there’s still trouble lurking at PGA National. The famed “Bear Trap” is no joke, but the three-hole stretch of 15, 16, and 17 plays slightly easier than it used to <\/span>prior to<\/span> the agronomy shift. There’s also plenty of bunkering and water to navigate, both off the tee and on forced carries via approach. When the wind gusts kick up, there are still some knee-knockers out there, but now that those shots are often played from a more predictable surface, they have far less bite than they used to.<\/span><\/p>\n

Early weather reports are encouraging <\/span>as far as<\/span> the wind <\/span>goes<\/span>, but check back as Thursday approaches.<\/span> Looking at my card from years past, I’m typically lighter here pre-tournament, saving bullets for matchups and chasing outright winners live on the weekend. This week, I took advantage of some soft opening numbers and built out a full card. <\/span><\/p>\n

For more course details, check out <\/span>Ron’s<\/span><\/a> course preview<\/span><\/a>. It’s the best in the business, bar none. Also, don’t forget to check out our research tools, the PGA National<\/span> course stats<\/span><\/a>, along with the <\/span>Tournament Cheat Sheet.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Podcast: <\/span>Apple<\/span><\/a> | <\/span>Spotify<\/span><\/a><\/h2>\n

YouTube: <\/span>Betsperts Golf<\/span><\/a><\/h2>\n

Key <\/span>Rabbit Hole<\/span><\/a> Stats This Week:<\/span><\/h3>\n